Russia’s Foreign Ministry released a statement on Sunday calling allegations of a chemical weapons attack in Syria “bogus,” “invented,” and “fabricated.”
According to Reuters, the ministry also warned any nations considering action against Syria in the wake of these allegations that Russia was ready and willing to respond with force.
The spread of bogus stories about the use of chlorine and other poisonous substances by (Syrian) government forces continues. Yet another such fabricated piece of information about an alleged chemical attack in Douma appeared yesterday.
We have warned several times recently against such dangerous provocations. The aim of such deceitful speculation, lacking any kind of grounding, is to shield terrorists … and to attempt to justify possible external uses of force.
Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia’s first permanent representative to the United Nations, tweeted a similar statement on the situation in Syria.
For those who spread another fake news about alleged use of chemical weapons in #Douma on April 7.We repeatedly warned that a provocation of this kind with the help of #WhiteHelmets is being prepared by besieged terrorists and there sponsors.And ask yourself a simple question:
— Dmitry Polyanskiy (@Dpol_un) April 8, 2018
Russia vetoed JIM renewal after UK and US refused to revise methods of its work to ensure transparency, objectivity and impartiality. We made an alternative proposal which was blocked. We insist that nvestigators should go to Syria and not analyse reports and YouTube.
— Dmitry Polyanskiy (@Dpol_un) April 8, 2018
Russia’s response may have been inspired by President Donald Trump’s Sunday morning tweets suggesting that Russia, along with Iran, had backed the “animal Assad.”
Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018
….to pay. Open area immediately for medical help and verification. Another humanitarian disaster for no reason whatsoever. SICK!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018
Nine member states on the UN Security Council, including the United States (but not Russia) have called for an emergency meeting to be held Monday in order to discuss the possibility of an investigation.